Telangana issues notices to 43 medical shops over weight-loss drugs

The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has issued show-cause notices to 43 medical shops for the illegal sale and misuse of weight-loss drugs, including Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus. The special drive was conducted across the state on Friday to detect spurious and counterfeit versions of drugs containing Tirzepatide and Semaglutide, and to check compliance with sale rules.

During inspections, officials found several violations. These included selling the medicines without prescriptions from specialists, failing to issue bills, not maintaining or producing sales and purchase records, failing to maintain prescription-drug registers, and dispensing prescription medicines in the absence of a registered pharmacist. The DCA said action would be taken under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the rules made under it.